G8 New Alliance criticised as “new wave of colonialism” in Africa
A landmark G8 initiative to boost agriculture and relieve poverty has been described as a new form of colonialism after ten African governments agreed to change seed, land and tax laws to favour private investors over small farmers. The changes make it easier for companies to do business in Africa through the easing of export controls and tax laws. The G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition initiative pledges to accelerate agricultural production and lift 50 million people out of poverty by 2022. But critics say that small farmers, who are supposed to be the main beneficiaries of the programme, have been shut out of the negotiations. Zitto Kabwe, chairman of the Tanzanian parliament’s public accounts committee, said that, “It will be like colonialism. Farmers will not be able to farm until they import, linking farmers to [the] vulnerability of international prices. Big companies will benefit.” The UK development secretary, Justine Greening, said that smallholder farmers were “absolutely a core part of the New Alliance” adding, “I think overwhelmingly we need to be careful that we don’t come at all these key projects that ultimately involve the private sector with a sense of somehow they’re going to be bad.” (Guardian)
Value Chain
Coca Cola lightweights 330ml bottle
Drinks giant Coca Cola has unveiled a 330ml sized glass bottle that weighs just 190g, thanks to a partnership with glass container manufacturer Ardagh. Improvements in design, combined with targeted changes in the glass forming process, have resulted in reductions in the weight of the previous 240g bottle. The lightweighting project also involves 330ml Sprite and Fanta bottles, in addition to the smaller sized 200ml Coca Cola bottle. Carsten Berkau, design manager at Ardagh, said that, “lightweighting is an on-going process through well-established design and manufacturing techniques. Our task is to keep the brand shape, whilst determining the stress points and the optimum weight of a glass bottle. State of the art technology ensures that when we are challenged, we can respond with even greater precision.” Ardagh is also working with Coca Cola on a number of other sustainability projects with a view to reducing energy and CO2 emissions. (Edie) Chemicals leaching into food from packaging raise safety concerns
Environmentalists have warned that synthetic chemicals used in the processing, packaging and storing of food could be doing long-term damage to health. Scientists claim that tiny amounts of synthetic chemicals leach into food from the packaging, and whilst minute quantities do no harm, they are unsure of the effects of a lifetime’s exposure to the chemicals, such as formaldehyde, through eating food previously wrapped or stored in plastics. Scientists noted that some of the chemicals that could cause concern are regulated but that this does not prevent their being used widely in food packaging. People who eat packaged or processed foods are likely to be chronically exposed to low levels of these substances throughout their lives. The study, which was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, says that, “since most foods are packaged, and the entire population is likely to be exposed, it is of utmost importance that gaps in knowledge are reliably and rapidly filled.” (Guardian)
Energy
Energy efficiency spending in China tops US for the first time
Last year, China spent more on energy efficiency than the US for the first time, accounting for almost a third of the world’s total with $4.3 billion invested. Global spending rose almost 5 percent to $14.9 billion, according to data by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). North American investment declined as much as 33 percent to $3.6 billion. Colin McKerracher, a senior analyst at BNEF, said that, “Asian and European markets will drive growth through 2020, while in North America the focus will continue to shift from hardware to software as utilities look to squeeze additional value out of the vast amounts of grid data now available.” China has installed almost 250 million so-called smart meters, while Europe is expected to have 180 million meters installed by 2020, up from 55 million currently. The meters enable customers to monitor energy use and provide immediate feedback to utilities who are able to use the data to set pricing and smooth fluctuations in demand. (Bloomberg)
Sustainable Transport
Campaign seeks to promote sustainable transport in India
With cars and motorbikes dominating India’s roads – leading to pollution, congestion and road traffic accidents – a new campaign has been launched to promote sustainable transport in the country. The campaign, run by the Union Ministry for Development and broadcaster Doordarshan, highlights how India’s public transport system has been neglected because of a car-centric approach in its infrastructure. The month-long initiative aims to get locals thinking about eco-friendly alternatives such as walking, cycling and using buses. Planned changes include making the allocation of road space more equitable, encouraging the use of public transport and establishing multi-modal public transport systems. The National Urban Transport Policy notes that due to the need for more sustainable transport methods, mobility needs must look to the future and the government has stated that it seeks to bring about “comprehensive improvements in urban infrastructure”. (BlueandGreenTomorrow)
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